Operating mechanism for washing-machines.



PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907. T. J. WINANS.

' OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

; APPLICATION TILED DEO.1, 1904.

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T. J. WINANS. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLIOATIQN FILED DEG-1. 1904.

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No. 841,605. PATENTED JAN- 15, 1907'.

- T. J. WINANS.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DBG.1,1904.

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iwvamtoz UNITED STATES PATENT QOFFIQE.

THOMAS J. WINANS, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO THE OPERATING MECHANISM Specification of Letters Patent.

FOR WASHING-MACHINES- Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed December 1, 1904. Serial No. 235,028.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. WINANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bingham'ton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in operating mechanism for washing-machines, and has for its object the provision of mechanism of this character which may be oper ated by connections from city water-mains or other water connections under pressure to drive the operating-motor, or the operating mechanism may be driven by other power. The washing-machine is simple in construction, compact, and of a size to be conveniently used in an ordinary kitchen or laundry-room. As illustrated, a motor is shown as applied to a washing-machine, connection belng made to the ordinary street water-main in a wash-room for driving the motor and the motor in turn 0 eratively connected to the washing-mac e-operating mechanism and also to a clothes-wringer located on the washingsniachine.

The invention consists of amotor-driven mechanism, the rotary motion of the drivingmotor being changed to a reciprocating or longitudinal backward-and-forward revolving motion of the washtub on its central support. The rotary motion of the motor may also be imparted to the rolls of a clotheswringer used in conjunction with the washing-machine.

The invention further consists in certain .novel features of construction and combinaing also the two standards or uprights in section. Fig. 3 is a-broken sectional detail view, enlarged, of the central tub support or bearing. Fig. 4 is an inverted view of the tubsupporting frame, showing a projection on one of said frame-forks .and an arm projecting from the central su port, againstwhich arm the projection is adhpted to engage or strike to aid in reversing the swing of the tub. Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the gearing, shaft, and cranlcarm of the driving mechanism as seen from the left in Fig. 1. Fig; 6 is a cross-section on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail of the reciprocating rod and its connection with the rotary connecting-shaft and crank of the operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a broken sectional detail showing manner of holding the washtub to the frame.

The motor for operating the mechanism of the washing-machine has no essential bearing and forms no part of the present inven tion but I illustrate a water-motor A, driven by pressure from a spigot B. The motor has a belt wheel or pulley C on the outside thereof, which is connected by a belt or rope D tothe large helt wheelor pulley 1 of the Washin -machineoperating mechanism.

ulley 1 is ournaled on shaft J, located in bracket K, which bracket is attached to one of the uprights L of the frame M of the wash ing-machine. Wheel 1 and its shaft J i1npart motion to the series of driving-pinions 2 3 4 6 5 in the order named, and the shaft 7 of j the wheel or pinion 6 carries a bevel-gear 8,

-which meshes with bevel-gear 9, located on the shaft 10. All the pinions and ear-wheels are carried in bearin s on brac ket K. It will thus be seen that t e motor, through the above-described connections and gearing,im-

arts motion to the rotary shaft 10. The ower bearing for shaft 10 consists ofthe bracket 11, located in the corner at the base of the upright L and frame M. At the extreme lower end the shaft 10 has clamped thereto a crank-arm 12, said arm being split at one end and provided with a clampingscrew 13, and by this means the crank-arm 1s rigidly connected to the shaft 10 and revolves therewith. At this point in the mechanism the rotary movement is changed to a recipro- 1 eating or. oscillatory motion, and the reciprohorizontally forward and then in reverse direction on its central support.

Loosely seated in the crank-arm 12 at its free end 1s the pin 14, having a head resting on the arm 12. This pin has an opening 15 therethrough, through which is passed the recating motion is utilized to swingthe tub N v ciprocating rod 16. A cut-away portion 17 is provided on the upper sideof the rod 16,

and beneath the rod and also in opening is pushed the spring-cotter 18, the pressure from the cotter tending to hold the cut-away portion 17 up against the top of the opening 15, thus holding the rod 16 rigid with rela tion to pin 14. From this construction it will be observed that when shaft 10 is rotated or revolved it swings the crank-arm in a circle, and the pin '14, being loosely held in the arm, travels in a circle about the shaft and imparts'areciprocatory motion to rod 16.

Rod 16 is connected at its inner end to the pivoted lever 19 and said lever is loosely mounted upon the central vertical shaft or support 20 and is free to turn thereon except when under conditions as will, be described. Shaft 20 has a lower bearing in the bearingbracket 21 and at the upper end of said bracket has a ball-bearing 22, the bracket being suitably supported in the frame M. At its upper end the shaft 20 is provided with a rigid spider or multiple-armed frame 23, and

these two members-shaft 20 and spiders 23- rotate together. The spider 23 is located directly above the pivoted lever-arm 19, and one of the arms of the spider has at its end a raised lug 24, adapted to fit and engage in the recessed bracket 25, located on the under side of the bottom of the washtub N.

A connection is formed between one of the arms 23 and pivoted lever 19 by means of the s rings 26 26, which are attached at 27 27 to tlever-arm and also hooked into the lugs 28 on the arm 23. Thus while the spider and lever-arm are not rigidly connected together they are so connected b the springs 26 that when the lever is move on its pivot motion is imparted to the .spiderthrough the springs,

and the spider, being connected to the tub N by lug 24 and bracket 25, motion is also im-.

parted to the tub when the lever is moved. In utilizing this sprin connection advantage is gained, in that wh' e swinging forward the tub may be reversed in its movement without shock or jar, the js rings acting as a buffer to take up any shocli or jar due to reversal of the motion. .This spring-buffer applies.

principally to the reciprocating mech amsm itself. The tub also has an arrangement of springs whereby the momentum of the tub is absorbed, and areversal of movement may be accomplished without loss of power and-also without shock or jar.

Located directly belowthe lever 19 and surrounding the support 20 I employ the twoarmed sleeve 29, having connected thereto the two springs 30, the outer ends of the springs being in turn hooked to the brackets 31, secured to the frame M. On the under side of one of the spider-arms 23 I provide a projection 32. (See Fig. 4.) When the spider 23, carrying the tub, is swung around its center, the projection 32 will engage first one edge 33 and then the other edge 33 of the arms of sleeve 29. When either of these arms is engaged by the projection 32, the springs 3030 will give in one direction or the other and sleeve 29 will rotate slightly around the sup ort 20, thus taking up the momentum of t 1e parts and aiding in the reversal of movement of the tub and reciproeating parts of the mechanism. a

The clothes-wringer (indicated at 34) may also be operated from the motor through pulley C, belt D, wheel 1, and gears2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and gear 35. Gear 35 is journaled in the groove 36 of the bracket K and is adapted to engage with the gear 37, connected to one of the rollers of the clothes-wringer. When the motor is in operation and the gear 37 meshing with gear 35, the wringer will be i operated. The wringer may be attached to the washingmachine frame by clampingscrews 38, as indicated in Fig. 1. t

In .operation soiled clothes are placed in the .tub, together with water and cleansing compound. The water-motor drives pulley C, belt D, pulley 1; and the series of gears, which impart motion to the shaft 10 and crank 12, reciprocating the rod 16, which pulls and pushes the pivoted lever 19 back and forth.- Lever 19 imparts motion to the spider 23, and with every rotation 01' revo- 9 lution of .the shaft 10 and crank 12 the tub is moved forward and reversed through the described connections, the springs actin to produce the results at reversal, as descri ed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim is 1. The combination with 'a central sup-- port, reciprocating mechanism mounted on the support and provided with shock-absorb ing means, of a reciprocating rod connected to said mechanism, and gear connections for operating the rod.

2. The combination with a central support, of yielding reciprocating mechanism mounted on said support, a-reciprocating rod connected to said mechanism, .a rotary shaft and crank connected. thereto, and a series of gears to operate the shaft. w

3. 'The combination with a central support, of a supporting-spider mounted to oscillate upon said sup ort, springs located in the spider to absorb th V spider, a rod and connections forj reciprocate jarof the oscillations, a reciprocating rod connected to the spider, "rotary shaft and crank connected thereto,

ing said lever, a collar journaled on the shaft 1 lating the lever, and a yielding abutment to 10 and adapted to be contacted by the lever, limit the motion of the lever.

and springs limiting the motion of the collar, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature so that the same forms a yielding abutment in presence of two witnesses.

to the lever.

6. The combination with a support and a S' WINANS' spider adapted to oscillate thereupon, a lever arranged on the support, flexible connections between the spider and lever, a rod for oscil- Witnesses:

E. H. JOHNSON,

DoANE OAFFERTY. 

